Any holder of a driver’s license with either a five-year or a 10-year validity is no longer required to go through a prescribed periodic medical examination, the Land Transportation Office said Sunday.
LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade issued a directive to amend LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930.
Under the memorandum, apart from the regular medical examination as a requirement for application of a new or renewal of a driver’s license, those issued with a five-year or a 10-year valid driver’s license must undergo a PME.
In the prevailing guidelines, for one with a driver’s license that carry a five-year validity, a PME is conducted on the third year of the date of birth after the license was issued.
On the other hand, one with a driver’s license that is valid for 10 years, the PME is conducted on the fourth year and seventh year of the date of birth after the license was issued.
Tugade, however, said the agency deemed it wise to waive the PME requirement based on various studies, data collected and a series of consultations.
Data showed that failure to undergo the required PME is not included among causes of road crashes.
“There’s no empirical data saying that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes,” Tugade stressed.
Under the amended circular, the mandatory medical examination will now be a requirement only before applying for, and during the renewal, of a driver’s license.
“For licensees who will be issued a five-year validity driver’s license and 10-year validity driver’s license, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” Tugade’s directive read.
Tugade said the mandatory medical examination under LTO Memorandum Circular 2021-2285 or the Supplemental Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10930, shall only be required before applying for and during renewal of a driver’s license.
“For motorists who will be issued driver’s licenses with five or 10 years validity, the medical examination shall only be required 60 days prior to or on the specified renewal date,” he said.
Tugade said that based on studies, data collected and consultations, failure to undergo periodic medical examinations is not a proven cause of road accidents.
“There’s no empirical data showing that periodic medical examinations could prevent road crashes,” he added.
Meanwhile, Filipino driver’s license holders who are working or living abroad are required to undergo a medical exam within 30 days upon arrival in the Philippines before they can drive in the country.
For a Filipino driver’s license holder who is working or is living abroad, he or she would be required to go through a medical examination within 30 days upon their arrival in the Philippines before they are allowed to drive in the country.
LTO earlier imposed caps on driving school fees nationwide starting April 15 amid complaints on expensive rates.
Under the new guidelines, the allowed maximum prescribed rate for Theoretical Driving Course would be P1,000.00, while the maximum prescribed fees for Practical Driving Course would vary depending on the license code—P2,500 for driver’s license codes A and A1 and P4,000 for license codes B, B1 and B2.
Aside from the prescribed maximum rates, accredited driving institutions would be required to hold the mandatory 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course in two days, with the first seven hours on the first day and the remaining eight hours on the second day.
